Gum over Platinum Printing with Diana H. Bloomfield

In this workshop, we will experience the beauty and joy of interpreting our images through the 19th century photographic printing processes of platinum/palladium and gum bichromate.

Individually, each of these processes can create a luminous one-of-a-kind print. Cross-processing the two— adding gum bichromate (an emulsion made of watercolor pigment, bichromate, and gum arabic) over a finished platinum/palladium print— adds a certain depth, richness, and subtle color to the warmth and long tonal range of platinum/palladium.

You will learn the platinum/palladium process on the first day, hand-coating paper and printing your images from digital transparencies. The second day, you will learn about the gum bichromate process, adding a gum layer to your finished platinum/palladium prints made the day before. We’ll also look at the works of 19th century and contemporary photographic artists who have successfully used these processes to interpret their own work.

Although we will make digital transparencies for you before the workshop, during the workshop you will learn how to best curve images for these particular processes.

No prior experience is necessary for this class. Materials for two sets of negatives and up to three finished prints are included with registration. Materials for additional prints are available for $12/print, and for $5/per negative.

We look forward to seeing you the weekend of April 7-8, where you will experience what all the fuss is about with ‘alternative’ photographic processes. Once you hand-brush emulsion on watercolor paper and see how your images transform, you’ll never look back!

Image by Diana Bloomfield

About Diana

An exhibiting photographer for over thirty-five years, Diana Bloomfield has received numerous awards for her images, including a 1985 New Jersey State Visual Arts Fellowship, and five Regional Artist Grants from the United Arts Council of Raleigh, North Carolina, most recently for 2015-16.

Specializing in 19th century printing techniques, Diana’s images have been included in a number of books, including Pinhole Photography: Rediscovering a Historic Technique (3rd Edition), by Eric Renner; Robert Hirsch’s Exploring Color Photography Fifth Edition: From Film to Pixels (2011); Jill Enfield’s Guide to Photographic Alternative Processes: Popular Historical and Contemporary Techniques (2013); in Christopher James’ The Book of Alternative Photographic Processes (2015); and, most recently, in Christina Z. Anderson’s Gum Printing: A Step-by-Step Manual, Highlighting Artists and their Creative Practice (2017).

A native North Carolinian, Diana currently lives and works in Raleigh, North Carolina, where she received her MA in English Literature and Creative Writing from North Carolina State University. She teaches workshops throughout the country, including at the amazing Art Intersection, and in her beautiful backyard studio. Diana is represented by Panopticon Gallery, located in Boston, Massachusetts.